Kerry, Pakistani PM agree to work for Afghan peace

Indo Asian News Service

1 August 2013

Islamabad, August 1 (IANS) US Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here Thursday and both sides agreed to work together for peace and stability in Afghanistan and move forward Afghan reconciliation process.

The two leaders held one-on-one meeting which was later on joined by the respective delegations, Xinhua quoted the state-run Radio Pakistan as saying.

"Both sides discussed in length the Afghan situation besides other regional issues including the post-2014 scenario," the radio said.

They also discussed Pakistan-US ties and emphasized the need to further promote relations in different fields including education, energy and social sector.

The US delegation included Special Representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins and US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson.

Earlier, Kerry met Advisor on National Security Sartaj Aziz at the foreign office and discussed bilateral issues with particular reference to Afghanistan.

Kerry, the first senior American official to visit Pakistan since the new Nawaz Sharif government assumed office in June, arrived late Wednesday to review prospects of future relationship with Pakistan.

The foreign ministry said Pakistan will raise the issue of controversial US drone attacks in the country's tribal regions.

US officials in Washington were quoted as saying that the secretary will reinforce Washington's continuing commitment to Pakistan.